Commodore Charles Morris was born in Woodstock, Conn. July 26 1784 and died in Washington, D.C. January 27 1856. Appointed Midshipman July 1 1799; Captain March 5 1813. As one of the officers of the Intrepid he took part in the recapture and destruction of the Philadelphia in the harbor of Tripoli February 17 1804. He took a prominent part in the engagement between the Constitution and Guerriere, being severely wounded while in the act of boarding the latter vessel. For his gallantry on this occasion he was advanced one grade by the President. In 1825 he commanded the Brandywine while taking Gen. Lafayette back to France after his last visit to the United States. He was Commandant, Boston Navy Yard, 13 June 1827 to 12 May 1833. From 1851 to 1856 he was Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance. The photo is from the Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-7249. Note that the DANFS history is in error and this vessel was not named for Robert Morris, the correct data is listed in the 1924 edition of Ships' Data, U.S. Naval Vessels.

Bill Gonyo/Stephen P. Carlson, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard

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Undated photo of the Morris firing a Whitehead torpedo. From the technical publication A Brief History of U.S. Navy Torpedo Development published in 1978.